In February 2008 Nowak was a founding member of the 'Research Platform Human Rights in the European Context' at the University of Vienna.[5]

In January 2009, Nowak appeared on Germany's ZDF television saying he believed the United States had a clear obligation to bring proceedings against President George W. Bush and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, because of torture inflicted on detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. Nowak said, "We have seen the documents that show that these interrogation methods were expressly ordered by Rumsfeld, but of course with the knowledge of the highest levels in the United States."[6]

Novak looked into allegations from Manning supporters that U.S. Army Private Chelsea Manning, accused of leaking classified documents to the website WikiLeaks, was mistreated in military custody.[7]

Nowak gives an account of his work as Special Rapporteur in the Journal of Human Rights Practice.[8]

Since 2012 Manfred Nowak is the Scientific Director of the "Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights" at the University of Vienna.[9]